Tarasha The Brutal Assassin Story PART 2 Episode 2

  Danjuma began to fasten all the locks and close every light entry into the house. He never imagined that a day like this would come. When he was transferred from Lagos state to Maiduguri in Borno state seven years ago, the country was not experiencing any visible terrorist attack then. All of a sudden the group sprang up from nowhere, it was rumoured that they've been underground since the regime of the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The area he and his family stayed in Maiduguri was one they that was believed to be safe from these attacks but recently their environs had began to feel the heat.

The Boko Haram group became more noised around the world when on the night of 14 - 15 of April 2014, they kidnapped over 270 girls at the Government Girls Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State.
Since then a strange kind of fear had beclouded Danjuma's heart but he refused to voice it out as the Man of house. He resorted to praying and hoping that the terrorism would end soon.
He ran around the house piling up heavy loads at the door of the main entrance to the house. In case the attackers break through the door, the obstructions would give him more time to escape with his family.
Before he knew it, several voices had already assembled at their doorstep, banging on the door. Danjuma ran around the house, trying to find where the rest of his family were hiding.
Gbam! There was an explosion. A metal plank hit Danjuma on the back as the loads he placed at the door scattered about from the effect of the grenade. He fell to the floor bleeding profusely.
Seven men with hoods covering their faces barged in through the exploded entrance. One of them sighted Danjuma immediately and charged towards him.
The terrorist dragged him up. 'Where your family?' He asked in pidgin English, demanding where the rest of Danjuma's family were hiding.
Danjuma stared at him helplessly without saying any word. The man dragged him on the floor and proceeded with the rest of the crew to search the rooms.

After five minutes, two of the terrorists returned with the mother and five kids to the destroyed living room. Rikau who seemed to be the leader of the team dropped Danjuma on the floor and licked his lips as he sighted Lydia open thigh in her gown. He motioned towards her with a evil smile.

'Drop am for floor' he ordered the terrorist holding her by the collar.

He smiled wickedly again before he knelt down beside her and stretched his hand underneath her gown. She tried to resist but he slapped her face hard and blood rushed down her nose.

He smacked his lips and pulled out her tight underwear, dipping his finger into her privates. She screamed.

Danjuma stood up with the remaining strength left in him and charged towards the molester but was stopped halfway when someone hit his back with a metal rod. He fell down flat.

Rikau left Lydia temporarily while two of his men held her down for him. He removed a dagger from his pocket and motioned towards Danjuma. Another two of his men lifted Danjuma upright for their Boss' attack.

The dagger was pierced into Danjuma's left eye and the ball was plugged out. The children screamed in horror as they saw this. The second boy couldn't take it anymore and rushed to Rikau and dealt him punches at the back. His attack was short lived as machete was ran through his neck and his head fell off immediately.

The rest of the children sobbed uncontrollably as two other men pointed a gun at them to keep them down. The eldest son, who was sixteen at that time began to offer emergency prayers to God amidst tears.

Rikau continued his evil and pierced the dagger into the second eye. He plucked it out too.

'These heads and blood is for god' Rikau laughed scornfully. 'Dear god in heaven, accept our sacrifice. We know you are pleased when we kill unbelievers and spill their blood to you. Please prepare a nice place in heaven for us as you have promised'

He screamed and thrusted the dagger into Danjuma's belly before he returned to complete his unfinished business with Lydia.

She screamed uncontrollably as he molested her viciously. He got up after satisfying himself, he spat on her and watched she panted heavily. But he was still not satisfied yet. He turned his gaze to the children and gave another wicked smile, motioning one of his boys to bring Omotara forward. He licked his lips wickedly again.

'Comot her cloth' he ordered.

The boy wasted no time in carrying out the order. His strength was too much for Omotara to resist as he undressed her in less than two minutes. Rikau stared at the underdeveloped body with an evil eye. His eyes were fixed on her breasts which were just shooting out. Someone held on to his legs tightly as he motioned forward. He turned back to see Lydia pleading for him to leave his daughter. His anger was kindled the more.

He signalled to two of his men and they dragged Lydia up. He used his dagger to tear off her cloth which was already soaked in blood. He pulled away her bra and squeezed her breast wickedly with his hands. He took his dagger close and sliced the left side. Her screams echoed through the whole building as the men laughed sardonically.
'My god, this is for you. We thank you for your provision' he shouted as he drank out of the blood oozing out from her body.
'Our god is great! Our god is great!' The rest of his men chanted happily.
Rikau ordered his men to drop Lydia's body on the floor and he turned back to face the horrified girl as he dropped the dismembered part. 'Lay her on the floor for me' he commanded.
Joe, the youngest boy escaped from where he was kept and raced to Rikau who was already bouncing on the body of his sister.
Two quick bullets were sent into the boy's forehead and he fell down immediately. The shooter did not stop at that, he matched towards the lifeless body and detached the head with his machete. His evil act was followed by another round of chants 'god is great! god is great!'
Omotara's screams filled the atmosphere as Rikau handled her with no pity. Her two brothers, the eldest and Jerry the immediate younger one , remnant of her family watched in tears helplessly as their sister was abused by the wicked hood wearing man.

 

 **PRESENT**
Tarasha wiped her face with her handkerchief as she relayed her story to him. Henry moved closer and drew her body nearer to his. He engaged her in a  tight hug as tears dropped off his eyes too.
'You had such a bad past, I'm sorry for bringing back those memories' he said as placed a  hand on her back. 'But God can help you forgot those memories and focus on the future'
Evelyn moved her  head from his chest and stared into his eyes angrily. She gradually removed herself from his grip and got up in a hurry.
'I'm sorry, but I was just saying the truth.' He stood up, watching as she put on her shoes hurriedly. 'Look, you can't blame God for what some evil men did'
She proceeded towards the door without paying attention to him anymore. He followed after her and held her bag to stop her. She turned to look into his face.
'I don't know how you feel Evelyn, but I know you must feel very bad' Henry said in a calm tone. 'But God didn't send those men to your family'
'Then why didn't he save my family from them?' Evelyn screamed as she dragged her bag from him. 'Why didn't he save us from them?'
Henry stood speechless for a moment and watched as she barged out of the house and hurried away.
'Let me drive you home' he shouted and followed after her again when he regained himself. She has walked away into the darkness already.

8am, next morning
Jubril Lawal had just walked into his office with his personal assistant when his phone began to ring. His P.A handed the phone to him. The call was from an international number.
Jubril settled into the swivel before answering the call. 'Hello'
'Hello Mr. Jubril' a mixed kind of accent was used to answer him. 'How are you doing today sir?'
'I'm fine. May I know who's on the line ....'
'Oh! Pardon me. I thought you were expecting my call. I'm Alexander Amaechi, director, AA Ltd Canada' the voice came bolder.
'Oh! Good morning Mr Alex' Jubril spoke cheerfully. 'I wasn't expecting the call so early'
'Oh! I prefer to do it early if it's business' the caller said a chuckle. 'My daughter told me about your discussion with her and I showed interest in speaking with you directly, she gave me your mobile number'
'Yes, she told me that I should expect a call from you'
'Good. I started a little research about you from the day she told me about your company' the man continued in his baritone voice. 'I'm a Nigerian myself' there was a pause.
'But I was a little bit disturbed when she told me about coming to Nigeria for the cotton business. It's not easy to do business with Nigerians nowadays especially when it's a Young person. I didn't want her to fall into wrong hands'
'I understand' Jubril replied with a smile. 'I had a little research about you too, I wanted to be sure of what I'm getting into'
'Well... I believe you're the right man. I'll be speaking to her from time to time. The monies needed for any transaction would be transferred from the AA account at any time'
'Okay, you agreed to fund her deal'
'No, the monies we're dealing with is for her, she saved it up'
'Oh! I see'
'Yeah'
'I must commend you. You really did a great job in bringing her up, she's a very focused young lady'
'Hmm, Thank you. I'm always very proud of her'
'Good!'
'Well, I'll talk to you later '
'It's okay' Jubril said and dropped his phone. He made a signal to his P.A who motioned forward.
'Trace that number for me, find out who owns it.' He handed the phone to the P.A.
The P.A gave him a puzzled look. 'Find an expert who can do that, I didn't mean you should do it yourself' Chief Jubril fired at him.
'Okay' the P.A replied timidly after which Jubril dismissed him with a wave of the hand.
.........

8am
'How far?' Benny asked as Cole ended the call.
'Good, went as planned' Cole answered standing to his feet. 'No true caller application can detect where and who the call was from' he boasted as he walked towards the TV to switch it on.
'I trust you but I don't trust that voice disguiser, I almost recognised your voice when we tested it' Benny said.
'We tested it at a close range, it could misbehave. But you still said my voice sounded more like an older man'
'True'
'That's enough for us, the man doesn't know me before so he can't even detect any resemblance to anyone's voice.' Cole returned to the sofa.
'I believe so' Benny gave a light smile. 'Has the boss called you still?'
'No, she hasn't' Cole answered with a frown. He picked his phone from the stool. 'It's strange of her not to pick her calls, since yesterday evening'
'Hope everything is fine with her'
'Sure, nothing can be wrong' Cole sniffed as he dialed her number again. He stared at Benny. 'It's switched off now'
'Switched off? I hope nothing has gone wrong' Benny frowned.
'I'm sure she'll call us soon, don't bother your mind.' Cole concluded. He smacked his lips and rubbed his palms together as Aisha walked into the living room, he was expecting an announcement about breakfast
Aisha stared at both of them curiously, wondering why they stopped talking when she appeared. 'What are you guys hiding?'
Cole and Benny laughed in unison. 'Hiding what?' Benny asked. 'Please is breakfast ready?'

..........
9.15 am
Henry dialed Evelyn's phone number for the thirtieth time that morning,  it was still switched off. He rested his back into the office seat and loosened his tie.
His mind had been unsettled since the last night when she left his apartment. He had driven after her in a bid to catch up with her on the street and drive her home but she wasn't found, she just disappeared into thin air.  He began to feel guilty and wasn't going to forgive himself if anything happened to her.
He stared at his phone, confused about what to do. He thought of going back to the hotel to ask about her but he had only little information about her. The only thing he knew was her first name.
He got up and took off his suit jacket and hung it on the rack by the wall after which he began to pace around the office. The landline on his table rang.
'Hello.' He answered the call.
'Hello Mr Henry' Sylvester's voice came through. 'I'm sending someone to you office right now, he has a job for us and I think only you can handle it well'
'Okay... Send him in' Henry replied after a brief moment of hesitation.
'Right away' the went off.
Henry put another call through to his secretary after putting back on his jacket and knotting his tie. 'Hello, someone is coming from Mr Sylvester now, please send him as soon as he gets there'
Someone pressed the bell two minutes later. 'You may come in' Henry answered.
A tall dark man in a black suit walked in smiling. He looked like someone in his early forties. Henry rose to greet him.
'Good morning sir' Henry stretched his hand to shake him.
'Good morning Mr Henry, I'm Debo Ola' the Man introduced himself as he took the handshake.
'I'm pleased to meet you sir, please have your seat' Henry motioned him.
'Thank you' the man settled down.
'Yeah, Mr Sylvester said you have a job for us'
'Yes' the man replied, pushing a paper forward on the table. 'Here is it'
Henry picked it up to look at it. 'This is a mobile number. Canadian right?'
'Yes, Canadian. It has the Canadian code but we're doubting the authenticity. That's why I've come to you' Debo replied.
'What's the reason for the doubt?' Henry asked and began to scribble the number into a notepad. 'I mean it looks authentic to me'
'It's the number of one of our invisible business partners' Debo explained. 'We need to verify if we're discussing with the right person or someone is just playing tricks with us'
Henry gave him a stern look. 'But do you know that this is illegal? You're asking for confidential details of someone which shouldn't be released'
The man dipped his hand into his suit inner pocket and brought out his ID card. 'I'm a private investigator approved by the government' he displayed the card to Henry.
'Okay then, just a minute.' Henry turned to his computer after confirming the man's identity.
After seven minutes, he turned back to the man. 'The number is really Canadian but I've not been able to verify the owner'
'Okay. But is it possible?'
'Yes, it is. I only need to get data from the network bearer in Canada. It may take us sometime and cost us some money'
'How long will it take?' The man enquired.
'Three days should be okay' Henry replied with so much positivity. 'As far as the authorities cooperate and provide us what we request for'
'Okay, how much will it cost?'
'Five hundred thousand naira should do'
'Five hundred thousand?' Debo looked surprised.
'Yes' Henry replied unperturbed. 'We would be charged by any of their authorities we pass through'
'But it's kind of much'
'It's okay' The man said, dipping his hand into his bag. He brought out his cheque book and began to write in it.
'I should write it payable to who?' The man asked after signing.
'Ermm... I think Mr Sylvester would handle that'

 

 'Alright.' Debo returned the cheque book and pen into his bag.
'Is there any other thing left?' Henry asked.
'Nothing, I only want to be assured that we'll get the report in three days'
'You will, I assure you'
'Okay.' Debo rose to his feet. 'I have to go now'
'Alright' Henry rose too and shook hands with the man again.
'Thank you Mr Henry'
'You're welcome.' With that Debo walked out of the office.
Henry sat back into his chair and stared at the number on his notepad for a while. He wanted to begin work on it but he felt restless. His thoughts immediately drifted back to Evelyn. Without much thinking again, he grabbed his car key and proceeded out of the office.
............
9.20am
A police Hyundai sonata parked right beside the cameras security office. A young officer came out of the car thirty seconds later and proceeded to the gate. He met the security man in charge.
'Good morning sir' the young officer greeted.
'Good morning officer' the security man answered.
'I'm Officer Paul from Division A' he said, displaying his ID card. 'I want to know if there's any Henry working in this organization'
'I'm sorry Inspector, I don't have the right to release such information'
The young officer laughed. He dipped his hand into his pocket and brought out a card. 'Why are you hiding a criminal? We found his national ID card in a crime scene yesterday' he displayed the card to him.
The security man opened his mind in shock. 'Yes, we have one and that's him. He's inside'
'No, we don't want to arrest him now. We want to trace him to his accomplices' the young officer tucked in the card into his pocket. 'What kind of car does he use?'
'He has different cars but he brought a blue Honda accord today'
'When does he close from work?'
'Four O'clock'
'Okay, here's our number' the officer handed a card to the security man. 'Please call us anytime he's leaving this premises'
'No problem, I will'
'We're watching you, don't try to aid his escape.' The young officer warned with a crooked smile before he turned and returned to the car. He was satisfied that he could put fear in the older man's heart. He got into the back seat where Afo was also sitting down, dressed in the police uniform also.
'How did it go?' Afo asked.
'Fine, the man's gonna call us. He says Henry uses a blue Honda'
'Did he notice anything about the fake national identity card and was the picture correct?'
'He couldn't have noticed anything and the picture is the right one. I sent it to Dare for confirmation after I downloaded it from Facebook'
'Good' Afo applauded after which he picked up his phone and dialed a number.
'Hello... Has the girl come out of the hotel at all?'

.......
9.20am
Evelyn finally got up from the bed after what seemed like the longest night she had had in several years. She stood up and stretched, she felt a little at peace than she did the last night. The only thing that still kept the event still fresh in her brain was a sharp headache she felt. She clenched her teeth as she walked to the window and opened the blind.
A strange anger against herself was welling up as her head continued to bang. It was wrong for her to feel headaches. It had been ten years ago she had one, at least not one that made her feel as terrible as this. She was sure that it was a result of the emotional stress she went through the last night. But how did the emotions return, she thought they had died long ago?
She couldn't describe what she felt when Henry spoke with her. Her mind raced back to the feeling she had when she stared into his eyes as he narrated his story. She had tried to deny the feeling before but she felt it again now as she remembered the faint glow in his eyes.
She rebuked herself and turned away from the window, she was not supposed to be thinking of him, a total who was only going to be used in the course of her operation. The only right thing for her to think about was the operation.
She suddenly remembered her phone as she sat back on the bed. She quickly looked for the bag she went out with the last night and picked it out. It was switched off.
'Damn!' She cursed. It was supposed to be always on as she was expecting a call from Jubril Lawal.
The first three messages that entered when the phone came on were from MTN, her network bearer. The fourth message was from Henry. She closed her eyes and dropped the phone as she saw his name. His face popped up in her mind again.
Wait! Did she tell him the story of her family's massacre? How did he get her to do so?
 

 She clenched her fists and opened her eyes, it was bloodshot. A phone call distracted her.
'Good morning Miss Evelyn' came Jubril Lawal's cheerful voice.
'Good morning sir' Tarasha managed to sound calm.
'How are you?' Jubril asked.
'I'm fine sir, how about you?'
'I'm doing great Miss. I spoke with your father this morning and we had a pleasant conversation. I'll like for us to meet and conclude the deal terms'
'Oh! Okay. When can I come to meet with you?'
'Let's make it tomorrow morning, 9am prompt'
'That's okay sir'
'Good, we'll see tomorrow. Take care'
'You too.' With that the line went off.
Tarasha got up and wiped off the sweat forming on her forehead. She began to take off her ruffled gown slowly. Henry's calm voice sounded in her head again.
** Flashback**
~~ December 20, 2020 ~~
'Tarasha, Tarasha' A voice sounded in whispers through the window. Tarasha's eyes popped open, it was Marvin calling her.
She rolled down from the hardwood quietly and buckled her bra well. She sniffed and began to tiptoe carefully in a bid not to wake the other occupants of the room.
She shivered as the door creaked while she tried to open it. She turned to see if anyone was woken by the noise but no was awake, only a few itchings and turns, she proceeded outside slowly, careful not to make any other sound. Marvin had turned from the window side to the door.
'Come' she grabbed Marvin's hand and they ran behind the lodge to a hidden place.
'Tara' Marvin who was bare chested and was covered with a torn towel-like material called her name softly.
'Yes?' Tarasha urged him, already getting impatient, staring around from time to time to see if anyone was coming.
'Tarasha' he called again.
Tarasha stopped to stare into his eyes. He never called her full name except that was something really very serious. 'What happened?'
'I've come to say goodbye to you' Marvin began. 'I may not have the opportunity to say it anymore'
'What? Goodbye? Where are you going to?' Tarasha bombarded him with questions.
'I'm not going anywhere. I may die tomorrow' He said in a sad tone. 'I overheard our Tent Lord saying that there would be a zonal bloodbath tomorrow and they plan to eliminate fifteen weak ones'
Tara stretched out her hand and touched his face. 'Fifteen weak ones? But that has nothing to do with you, with us'
'Tarasha' he removed her hand from his face. 'Let us be real, don't let us pretend as if I'm strong'
'You're strong Marvin, you can scale through'
'No, I'm not strong' Marvin argued. 'We all know that I only managed to escape death the last time. Now it's here' Marvin said as he turned his back on Tarasha.
'No, you won the battle, you didn't manage' Tarasha turned back his body to face her. 'And you are stronger now'
Marvin stared into the darkness for a moment, tears formed in his eyes. 'Tara, I'm not scared to die. I'm scared of leaving you. Ain't we even dead already. I think it's better we die before these people finally turn us to animals who kill without thinking'
'Don't we kill without thinking already?' Tarasha asked him.
'I kill on orders and I feel remorse for every time I had to do it' a tear dropped off his eyes as he spoke. 'But the Nefary clan is not comfortable with that, they are taking us to the level of killing without feeling any remorse. Imagine, they made you kill your friend, the cook.'
Tarasha sighed and turned away. 'I had no choice, I had to do that. He was already changed into a beast too'
'I know but they're going to make us do more. I heard that they do send some inmates to murder their families'
'Do we have families?' Tarasha turned suddenly to ask him.
Marvin was about to answer her when they heard a noise coming towards their direction.
'We have to go now' Marvin's eyes shone in panic as he peeped to see who was coming. He quickly grabbed Tarasha's hand and they hurriedly tiptoed away.
* Next day
Tarasha could hear the loud chants of male as thirty of them girls were led into the "Hardness hall". The boys were already been lectured in the hall.
The hall was a very large one, it was made of thick brick high walls. It had no widows in it but was unroofed. The floor was made of natural rock, hard, cold during evening and early mornings but hot in the afternoon.
'Love is a sin committed by weak people and it makes them weaker. Any object of love that is found beside you has to be eliminated' the voice in the thick Russian accent continued to shout. 'The day you start to love someone is the day you start to die'
Tarasha could spot Marvin where he stood, blindfolded. He was number two on the line in his group. That meant that he was the second person to battle. Tarasha looked around trying to locate Marvin's likely contender but before she could, the tent lord had already returned to blindfold her and the other girls. The girls were later arranged on two line but none of them knew their position on the line.
The battle was to take place in a cage and the enemy was not known until they got into the cage.
The first battle began and the first two fighters were sent in. Shouts and groans were what notified the other young assassins that the battle had begun.
After about ten minutes, the first battle ended and a winner with a bruised face emerged. Then the first set of girl fighters were sent into the cage. After another ten minutes, another winner emerged.
Then it was Marvin's turn. Tarasha knew it, she had seen him stand in the second position on the line. But she didn't know his contender until she felt a  hand on her shoulder. She was then dragged and pushed into another section. Her blindfold was taken off and she found herself in the cage with Marvin. Several fighting weapons laid on the floor for their use. The bell rang for the battle to begin.

 The lovers stared at each other for a while without making any move. The whole hall became as silent as a graveyard.
'Come on, attack' Vladimir, the zone lord shouted angrily.
Tarasha just couldn't move. Just few months ago, she had been made to slaughter a dear friend of hers, Stanley Bob. Now she was being asked to fight Marvin whom she loved.
She sniffed and rubbed her nose with the back of her hand. 'Love is for the weak ones, the stupid ones without a strong heart. Kill him before he kills you' she could hear a voice say to her.
'No, don't kill him. If you do, you'll be totally losing your good heart' another voice argued.
'Who needs a good heart?' The first voice laughed. 'It would only make one become a fool who can be manipulated by feelings'
'There's nothing wrong in letting good feelings take control over you' the good voice began but was interrupted.
'Shut up! Remember who you are, nothing should take control over you. You were made to kill and nothing should stop you from killing. Nothing including love or any feeling you have'
Tarasha was awoken to reality when she heard a clang sound, Marvin had picked up a sword. It seemed he had finally made up his mind on what to do.
Tarasha picked up a sword too and positioned herself for the fight. The duo began to move in a circle, each one trying to set a trap for the other.
Marvin was the first to strike, his sword went in direction of Tarasha's forehead but was stopped by her sword. The battle continued and the murmurings among the other trainees increased as the sound of continued clanging of swords filled the air.
After about four minutes of the sword battle. The two warriors spaced themselves. Both of them already had sweat dripping from their body. Marvin threw his sword away and clenched his fists. Tarasha understood the message and dropped her sword too. It was time for a battle without weapons. They moved close to each other.
Marvin sent a blow to her but she ducked down and he missed her face. She stepped aside without returning his attack. They stared into each other's eyes as they vibrated their bodies from side to side, moving in a circle. Marvin launched the same attack again and Tarasha ducked again but this time sent a heavy blow into his belly. He winced as he grabbed his belly and staggered forward.
He recovered quickly and stood straight again. He stared again into Tarasha's eyes, she seemed to be less interested in the battle. He remembered saying to her that he wasn't afraid of death, but he really was. Now, he was desperate to live even if it meant taking her life.
Marvin was an handsome boy, two year older than Tarasha. He stayed with his parents in Ghana until the day he was kidnapped alongside with four other boys and brought to the clan. The reason for his kidnap was not known to him until he spent two months in the clan.
Marvin was a soft person in nature but the four other boys which he walked and played with were bullies. Due to their big stature and strength, they maltreated everyone they could. Marvin was close to them because of one the leader of the boys happened to be his next-door neighbor. The kidnappers had observed the boys' cruelty for sometime and concluded that they had the tendency to become great assassins. Marvin was only unlucky to be with the bullies on the fateful day.
Back to the battle. Marvin carefully observed where Tarasha was standing, the weapons were out of her reach. He seized the opportunity and he picked up his sword again. He smiled at her wickedly as she looked at him in surprise. Maybe she thought her love was still in his head, he thought. But this was a matter of death or life, he still wanted to live for some more years and probably get out of the Nefary City alive. He shouted on top of his voice as he raced towards her, targeting her belly.
Tarasha was scared and undecided for a second but the adrenalin rush in her body made her react. She turned back immediately and made a short run to the wall where she took three steps on and projected herself over the attackers head, she landed at his back and he almost fell as a result.
A blow hit Marvin's face before he turned to her with the sword. Another hit his jaw when he tried to raise up the sword, it fell from his hand. Tarasha continued to deal him more blows on his face until he was bleeding profusely. He was too weak to defend himself. She held his neck and tightened her grip on it until he was he was out of breath. She was breathing heavily as she let his body fall to the ground. She stared at him on the floor for some seconds, murmuring inaudible words to herself.
'Bring his head' someone shouted as she turned, reminding her that her job wasn't completed until she presented his head as her trophy. She motioned towards where the sword was and picked it up. Then she went back to Marvin and detached his head in few seconds.
**PRESENT**
'No room for emotions' Tarasha murmured the same words she murmured after killing Marvin. 'No room for emotions, kill every object of emotion before it kills you'
She kept murmuring it to herself as she stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her. Her phone rang again. Henry was calling.
'Hello' she said as she answered the call.
'Hello Evelyn, can you meet me outside right away?' Henry asked in a serious tone.
'Give me ten minutes' she replied and ended the call.
She opened the wardrobe to select the clothes to wear. After three minutes, she was done with her dressing. She wore a black tight fitted trouser and top with a blue jacket on it. She sat back on the bed as she wore her boots. She checked the time and it was just five minutes gone out of the ten minutes. She had noticed the seriousness in his voice but wasn't concerned in anyway.
She drew out a briefcase from underneath the bed and placed it on her laps. She punched in the passcode and it opened up by itself. Knives and daggers of different sizes were carefully arranged inside. She selected three small ones and carefully tucked them into the space made available for it in her trouser. The small knives should be enough to take life out of Henry's body.

+++++++++

 
'How far Debo?' Chief Jubril asked as his personal assistant stepped into the office.
'Fine sir. The call was from Canada but we've not been able to verify the user's details'
'When would that be done?'
'We should get the report by next tomorrow' Debo answered.
'Are you sure?'
'Yes, very sure sir'
'Good...' The man paused and focused on his laptop for a minute before he returned his gaze back to Debo. 'Do you know what is happening next tomorrow?'
'Yes sir.' Debo smiled sheepishly.
Jubril Lawal smiled back. 'I want you to organize a banquet for me. The venue would be my villa. Send invitations to every friend on my contact list'
'Okay sir'
'Invite Evelyn Alex also.' The man paused and cleared his throat. 'I'll like her to meet with some of our other business partners that would be involved in our partnership. Make sure you also mobilize for proper security'
'Okay sir.' Debo bowed and proceeded out of the office,  trying to come up with ideas on how to organize for the birthday celebration.

Tarasha eyes began to search around for Henry in the reception as she came out of the elevator. She took out her phone from the jacket and dialed his number.
'Where are you?' She spoke into the phone.
'Outside the gate' a gruff voice which was not Henry's answered, Tarasha noticed.
'Okay, I'm coming' she replied and ended the call. She dropped the phone back into the jacket's pocket and proceeded out of the building.
She spotted Henry's blue Honda car parked behind a police sonata as soon as she stepped out of the gate. She noticed that three uniformed police officers were at their car with a non uniformed person. The officer at the front seat beside the driver's came out looking at her direction. She took out her phone and placed another call to Henry as she proceeded slowly towards his car.
'Hey Madam' the police officer accosted her.
'Hello, what can I do for you?' Tarasha ended the call she was trying to make and turned to attend to the officer.
'Are you Miss Evelyn Alex?' The officer asked.
'Yes, I...' Tarasha was cut short by what she saw. The "non uniformed officer" which appeared to be Henry was motioned out of the car by another officer which was huge in size.
'Do you know that man?' The officer continued, looking towards Henry.
Tarasha paused for a while before answering. 'Yes' She stared at Henry as the huge officer motioned him towards their direction.
'You were with him yesterday?' He asked again.
'Yes' Tarasha answered.
'Your attention is needed in our office' he said.
'For what?' She inquired.
'Just to answer some few questions' the officer replied with a brief smile.
Tarasha stared at Henry's face for an explanation but he just stared back until she spoke. 'What's all these Henry?'
'I'm sorry, I don't understand too' Henry replied. 'I asked them to leave you out of this but they said that we must go together. I believe that Dare must have told huge lies about us to the police'
'May we leave now?' The huge officer interrupted, eyeing Tarasha wickedly.
'Can I have my phone to make a call now?' Henry demanded, stretching out his hand to the slim officer.
'Of course, it's in the car. Let's proceed first, then you can make your calls on the way' the officer made way to return to the car.
'You go with her in the Honda' the huge officer, Afo , said in a commanding tone.
'Okay' the other officer obliged and led Tarasha who followed silently to the Honda.
The officer in the driver's seat of the Honda already started the car engine before they entered into it. They drove away from the hotel fence in few seconds.
Tarasha kept a searching gaze on the officer accompanying her. He stared back intimidatingly into her eyes when hers met with his. 'Is this how you pick up people in this country?' She asked a question which made the officer look stunned. 'I wouldn't have followed you if I didn't see Henry with you'
'You have no choice madam.' He gave a wicked smile as he answered. 'You don't defy police orders here'
'I have a right to know why I'm going with you' she snapped at him.
'I'm only inviting you for interrogation' he snapped back. 'Madam business from Canada, don't provoke me'
Tarasha looked away from him and carefully examined his words. He just qualified her as "Madam Business from Canada". Whatever he meant by the phrase, it revealed that he had found out from somewhere that she was from Canada and was doing a business. She glanced at him again with suspicion in her eyes. She began to search around his uniform again, searching for something to confirm her suspicion.
Henry had also become suspicious too when he asked from his phone from the huge officer and he replied him coldly. 'It's with my colleague in the other car, you'll get it when we get to the station, we can't pause our journey just because of you'
At this time they had driven for about fifteen minutes.
'Officer' Tarasha called softly. She placed a hand on his chest seductively covering the pocket on the shirt.
'Yes...' He answered, his body shivered as her fingers proceeded behind the buttons.
'What's your name?' She asked.
'Erm...' He stammered and looked towards his chest to check the name inscribed on the tip of the pocket. He flung her hand away from him suddenly as he figured out what she was doing. 'What that flip' he cursed and brought out a gun, pointing it at her immediately.
'I know you're fake, you don't own the uniform' Tarasha said bluntly and sat back properly, ignoring the gun pointed at her. 'Who sent you?'
'Shut the hell up' he shouted at her, still threatening with the gun. He searched his pants pocket with the left hand and brought out his phone.
'Hello, this girl don burst me o' he informed his colleague that he has been busted by the girl in pidgin English.
'No problem, just keep her there. We would be at the workshop in the next two minutes' the huge man answered through his phone in the police car. He brought out his gun also and pointed it at Henry.
'Boy, it's better you cooperate with us without making noise or I'll burst your brains' He said in a harsh manner, terrifying Henry.
'Who sent you?' Tarasha asked the slim officer again as they drove into a large compound.  He replied her with a wicked look.
'But this is not a police station' Henry protested as he looked around the bushy compound.
'Shut up and get out of the car' Afo ordered and pushed Henry out angrily.
Tarasha was also escorted out of the car with a gun by the other guy. The drivers of the cars came out of the car two with their guns, making it four armed men against Henry and Tarasha.
'Get into the house' Afo commanded, motioning them with his gun. Henry and Tarasha began to walk slowly into the brick walled building covered with corrugated iron sheets at the front section. The door was opened by one of the drivers and they were led into the poorly lit room, the windows were not opened and it made it hot.  Three other guys appeared from another section of the building and hailed their Boss Afo.
'Kneel down there' Afo commanded the two, pointing his gun at them as he lit a cigarette with his other hand. 'Raise up your hands' Afo added after they obeyed his first instruction. He brought out his phone and dialed a number.
Tarasha carefully dipped her right hand into her jacket's pocket and made sure nobody noticed as she took out an item and attached it into her sleeve before slowly raising up her hands.
He puffed out some quantity of smoke before placing the phone on his ear. 'Hello... We've got them here' he said through the phone to his call receiver, staring deeply into Tarasha and Henry's faces. 'My boy told me that you called and said you wanted to see them before we finish them off'
Afo inhaled another quantity of smoke before he continued. 'That means your money has increased, you'll add twenty percent... Ok, we're expecting you by evening time'
'Who sent you to kidnap us?' Tarasha asked in a calm voice.
Afo chuckled mockingly and hissed as he stared at her face. He turned to Kalu, the guy who was with Tarasha in the Honda car. 'Where are those chairs?' He asked searching round the room. 'Get the chairs and tie them up' Afo ordered and walked out of the building hurriedly.
++++++++++
'Good' Dare stamped his feet on the floor in joy as he ended the call. He rejoiced with himself in his office. He would finally put to rest his past which just resurfaced and was trying to haunt him. The only painful part of it was that Evelyn had to go with it.
He remembered the look on Henry's face when they met again after several years. Henry's gaze had sent shivers down his spine. What his guilt made him see was thirst for revenge in Henry's eyes. Then he decided that there was a need to totally wipe out the past of which Henry is a part of.
His phone beeped. He quickly picked it up and checked the screen. He smiled. It was a reminder for his Dad's sixtieth birthday which was coming up in two days time. He began to think of what gift was best to present to his father.
What could his money buy that his father couldn't get? His father was a hundred times richer than he was. The only gift he knew his father would be impressed by was a profitable business idea. 'Damn!' He sighed. His father was so business and money minded that it was possible for him not to remember his birthday on the day. He was sure there was going to be no party, his father barely attends social functions nowadays for the fun of it. He only did it if he was going to meet his business partners there. Or should he organize a surprise birthday bash for his dad? He thought.
No, the man would not appreciate that. Instead of getting pleased with the action, his father would probably be disappointed.
Dare shook his head thoughtfully and dropped his phone on the table. Then he returned his focus back to the files on his table.

**1.55pm
'Hmmm...' Henry kept shouting out words which were inaudible as he struggled on the seat he was tied to. His chair and Tarasha's were placed backing each other. She was also tied in the same manner. Each legs tied to corresponding leg of the chair and both hands tied together at the back of the chair and their mouths covered with a large plaster.
'Ooh shut up you idiot!' One of their abductors barged into the room angrily and smacked Henry on the face.
'Leave him alone' another one said as he came in bare chested with a red jersey hanging around his neck. 'Let him scream all he can now, he might not have the opportunity to scream again until his next life'
The first guy hissed and turned towards the main entrance followed closely by the second who hurriedly put on his shirt. Soon they were out of the compound, the sound of the gate closing could be heard.
Henry became calm all of a sudden, his mind was full of sadness, for Evelyn and his parents. Evelyn was just an innocent girl whom he put into trouble. His parents also depended on him as their only source of joy and proof of their parenthood. He could not think of what would happen if he was killed, his parents could die just from the shock of the news.
He struggled fruitlessly again to set himself free, shaking the chair vigorously, his head hit Evelyn's. She gave a soft groan, the only sound that she made after several hours that they had been tied.
**2.00pm
Tarasha could still feel the steel on her wrist, now she could sense that it was time to use it. She used the rope tied on the wrist to push it down and it cut her jacket and fell in between her palms, causing a small cut on her middle finger. She took a hold of the knife's handle and carefully moved it up and down the rope, slicing it slowly. Her hands got free in a minute.
She stretched her fingers before removing the covering on her mouth. The heavy breath she let out after got Henry's attention, he suspected that her mouth was free and made some noise to alert her in case it really was. She looked at him but ignored and continued to cut the rope off her leg. After the rope was off, she got up and stretched her legs. Henry noise was louder as he was fully aware that she was now free.
She hid back her knife before she walked to him and took off the covering on his lips, then she bent down to loose the ropes on his legs.
'How did you loose your ropes?' Henry asked impatiently without waiting for Evelyn to finish setting him free.
'They didn't tie it as tight as yours is.' She said after setting him free totally.
Henry got up and stretched his body tiredly. He looked straight into her eyes but she turned away and walked towards the window to peep.
'Thank God' Henry said. Tarasha stood suddenly still. Henry did not notice and he continued. 'Thank God, I'm sure he'll still get us out of here alive.' He turned to look at Evelyn as she wasn't responding to him
Their eyes met. Henry had never seen such fury like he did on anyone's eyes. He couldn't explain it but he knew there was a kind of dangerous anger in her. Then he remembered that he had just given "God" the credit.
Tarasha suddenly remembered the reason for all the knifes in her pockets. This could just be the right time to drain out life from his body, she thought.
+++++++++
Mallam Jefa carefully arranged his the seats in his joint. Very soon, several of his customers would begin to troop in to fill their bellies. He deals in toasted bread, tea, noodles, roasted cow skin (ponmo), "suya" and assorted drinks.
Jefa was well loved and patronised around the area. Many atimes, his customers would not leave after filling themselves but would stay and have fun as it would turn to a large gathering. Jefa always had to send most of them away when they began to lit their cigarettes or drink alcohol heavily to avoid violence and destruction of property.
Mallam Jefa whose real name was Jeffery was not an Hausa man nor does he dress like one, he only earned the nick as a result of his job, height and popularity among young men of the Hausa tribe.
Merely looking at Mallam Jefa's face, one who conclude that he was in his early fifties or close to sixties as wrinkles and spots had begun to show on his face. But it was not to be so, Mallam Jefa was just in his early thirties, a young man who looked so aged and troubled because of problems and several misfortunes that had befallen him in the past.
Very jovial and kind he was to everyone but a closer look at him would reveal his sorrowful mind. One who's heart wasn't at peace, one who only tried to feign happiness even though he never was.
As Jefa opened the window, he could see two of his customers stroll out of their compound which was just about three metres from his joint. He knew they were coming to him as they turned to his direction. He quickly cleaned two seats for them and returned to his stand room where he attends to customers.
'Mallam Jefa' one of the guys hailed, putting up his hands as they strolled into the neatly made wooden building.
'Hey!' Jefa hailed back. 'Welcome my guys'
'Thank you' the first guy said as they took their seats. The other guys just continued to puff his cigarette in silence.
'What do you want me to offer you?' Jefa asked.
The guys whispered to themselves. 'What do we take?'
'I'll go with moi moi and bread first, then a bottle of beer later" the cigarette puffing guy spoke.
'You want to stay here and drink?' The other guy asked in low tones. 'You know we've got to watch over those "dogs" back there'
'I know' came the reply in a harsh tone. 'There's no problem, they can never get away with those ropes used to tie them'
'What of if Afo comes?'
'Afo would return by three thirty and this is just two pm' he said after glancing at his wristwatch. 'We still have a lot of time'
'You guys are selling dogs now?' Jefa asked innocently as he served their order.
'No, we're just keeping them for someone' the first guy replied with a smile.
'Okay now' Jefa smiled back.
Several customers trooped in one after the other and Jefa soon got busy. His first two customers did not stay as long as expected, they paid him and walked away by exactly two thirty pm.

+++++
02.30pm
Tarasha motioned slowly to Henry, her hand slowly finding its way into the pockets where she hid the knifes. Henry stood still, puzzled as she approached him. The look in her eyes was unexplainable as well as the atmosphere around. Just two steps away from him, the gate clanged and she stopped. She removed her hand from the pocket and turned back. Their abductors were returning.
Tarasha's strange mood suddenly returned to normal. Her eyes blinked severally as she let out a deep breath, an unusual calmness overwhelmed her .
Henry quickly walked to the window, he opened the curtain and peeped, two of the guys were returning inside. He motioned back to Tarasha and grabbed her right hand. 'We have to get out of here' he said and dragged her along with him. They walked further into the other rooms in the house, all the rooms were dark except one that was brightened a little by a dim torchlight. Henry picked up the torch and pointed it round the room, looking for something to use for their defence.
The main entrance door creaked open. The smile on the guys' faces changed into a deep frown immediately as they saw that their captives had gotten loose already.
'Damn!' The first guy cursed under his breath and brought out his gun. The other man followed suit.
'I believe they are still around, we didn't stay long at Mallam Jefa's.' The second put in.
'Afo would kill us if they escape' the first guy whispered. He bent down to pick something, a wristwatch. 'They went this way' he said, pointing towards the direction their captives took.
'The backyard door is closed' the other added softly. 'So, they must be in the house' he brought out a phone and turned on the flashlight. He returned it into his pocket to hide the light, planning to bring it out when it's necessary.
The guys proceeded in slow steps in the same direction their captives took.
Tarasha sat at the corner of the room, looking pale like an helpless person. Henry felt the need and the responsibility to protect her. He already found a rod, with the help of the dim torchlight, a huge long one whose proper use was to close tightly the door at the back.
He positioned himself behind the wall by the entrance of the room, planning to take by surprise anyone that enters first.
The room was silent so the slow steps and breathings from the guys could be heard softly by Henry as they approached the room.
Henry raised up the rod in anticipation as someone got behind the door and touched the handle. The person paused, Henry paused too and strained his ear to listen. 'You... backyard' was all he heard. There was another pause again, footsteps could be heard walking fast away from the door. Then the handle was turned and the door opened.
The first thing that entered was the ray of light from the flashlight, then the person's right leg and the whole body. Henry landed the rod on the back of the man's head and he went down immediately, his gun falling away, blood began to ooze out of his head. Henry quickly dropped the rod and picked the gun. He checked if it was loaded and gave a brief smile before bending to search the man's body. He found a phone. He squatted and began to type into it.
'I've been kidnapped, report to the police and let them locate this phone number, that's where I'm kept. Henry' Henry quickly sent a text to his boss, Sylvester.
+++++
Sylvester hurried into the police station with the security guard running after him.
'Hello officers' Sylvester greeted as he got to the reception stand. The officers who recognised him saluted back and gave him attention. 'I heard you brought in one of my new workers to your station today'
'When exactly?' One of the officers asked with a frown.
'Few hours ago, between ten am and twelve noon' Sylvester replied looking to the security man for confirmation.
'Yes' the shivering security man replied.
'Sir, are you sure it's our station? We've not brought anyone in today'
Sylvester turned to the guard. 'Please explain everything to them, the same way you explained to him'
The guard began his explanation in details of how the officers parked beside the corporation and one of them approached him and asked him questions and how they also took Sylvester when he drove out of the gate.
'And they said it's Division A?' An officer interrupted.
'Yes'
'Nobody has been brought in here today and none of our officers have gone out to make an arrest along your direction today' the officer spoke after checking through the records in a book.
'Are you sure of what you're saying?' Sylvester asked the guard again.
'Yes'
'Why didn't you tell me early ?'
'I couldn't get to you, so I told the secretary' the guard replied.
'You told Bola?'
'Yes'
'But she never told me anything' Sylvester said and turned back to the officers. 'Please can I see any of your senior officers?'
'Let's check is anyone is available first' one of the officers said and walked away from the reception.
'Have you called the person who was arrested on phone?' Another officer asked.
'Yes, his line is switched off. That's what's making me alarmed, I believe I'm the first person he'll call if he gets into any trouble'
'Hmm... But you're the Boss of the Security cameras corporation. Have you checked the tapes?'
'There's no record. I'm suspecting that he has been kidnapped by the same people who have been hacking our security, I only want to confirm if he's here first before I make a report'
'Okay'
Sylvester's phone vibrated in his pocket. He brought it out and checked. It was a text message.
+++++
2.30pm
In a large uncompleted building, an abandoned one. Boys could be seen sitting on the window edges, smoking Indian hemp and drinking. Another guy was parading the compound with a cigarette in his mouth.
A policeman stood right in front of the compound's gate. He looked around the environment to see if anyone was watching him before opening the gate slowly and walking in.
'Hey you!' The parading guy was the first to accost him. The other guys also jumped down from the windows, alert. 'What do you want?'
'Your boss, Afo is waiting for me' the policeman replied.
'Okay' the parading guy nodded and signaled to the other guys while the policeman proceeded to the building. One of the guys led the policeman to their boss.
Afo was seated on a set of neatly arranged six inches blocks. A half unclad lady was seated on his laps.
Afo noticed the policeman's entrance and engaged the girl in a kiss before dropping her off his laps. He then smacked her on the buttocks playfully before asking her to excuse them.
The policeman turned to look at the girl walking away and she eyed him mockingly. He turned again to look at Afo who's body was thrice of the girl's He shook his head in pity for the lady, wondering how bad she would scream when Big Afo starts banging her mercilessly.
'Miko' Afo hailed, extending a handshake to his guest.
'Afo' Miko replied unenthusiastically, still looking at the girl who was walking slowly away, rolling her buttocks in the process.
'Miko!' Afo hailed again and tapped his guest playfully on the shoulder. 'Do you want me to arrange an "opeke" like this for you"
'No' Miko shook his head in disagreement. 'I don't need that'
'Well, that's your problem' Afo brought out a cigarette and his lighter. 'Why have you come here in your uniform today?'
'There was no time for me to change before coming, I had to come like this'
'Okay, so what have you come here for?'
'What have I come here for?' The officer asked with a look of surprise on his face. 'Didn't we have an agreement?'
'What agreement?' Afo asked, blowing some smoke into the air.
'Come on Afo. Didn't I release a car and some uniforms to you today?'
'Oh! That?' Afo feigned surprise.
'Yes, I've come to get it. That's our agreement'
'Ermm... It's true. That's our agreement, but...'
'But what?' Miko was getting impatient.
'I still want to use it'
'No, I have to leave here with everything now' Miko disagreed boldly.
'Calm down Miko, I'll triple your money'
'It's not about money, I'll get into trouble if I don't return with them this evening'
'Then don't return at all' Afo said coldly.
'What do you mean?'
'Go somewhere else'
'No, I can't '
'You can'
'No, the police would find me anywhere I run to hide' Miko retorted.
'I know somewhere where they won't find you, I can help you get there'
'I'm not...' Miko couldn't complete his statement as a bullet sank into the back of his head.
'Take out the idiot' Afo commanded the same guy who shot from the back.
Afo took in another large amount of smoke as turned back. He picked out his phone and dialed a number. 'Mr. Dare'
'Afo' Dare answered from the other end.
'How far? Hope you'll keep to time, we are expecting you by 4pm like you said'
'No, I'm sorry' Dare sounded down. 'My Dad just called me, he wants me to meet with him after work immediately'
'It's okay, so should we still wait for you?'
'No please, drop the both of them'
'Alright'
'You can do that immediately, make sure that their death is slow and painful, especially for the man. And do make sure that their bodies are never found'
'Okay, I will ensure that' the call ended. Afo dipped the phone back into his pocket and finished the stick of cigarette before proceeding out of the uncompleted building.
+++++
'Come, let's get out of here' Henry motioned Evelyn who was already coming towards him.
They locked hands and crossed over the dead body at the entrance of the room. They began to head back in direction of the main door, Henry leading the way and guiding her with his gun.
'I can't find them anywhere.' Henry and Evelyn paused as they got to the first room where they were tied before. The man who had gone to check the backyard was returning through the entrance.
Henry cocked his gun, he made Evelyn to hide behind his body and got set to take down the approaching enemy. The door opened and the guy came in unsuspecting, a bullet entered into his chest immediately.
Henry jumped up and rejoiced with Tarasha as the second enemy fell flat. 'Let's get out of here now' he said to Tarasha who was looking indifferent.
They opened the door and began to run to the gate. The gate creaked, Evelyn and Henry paused in fear. Then the gate began to open slowly, a car was behind. Their fears were confirmed, Afo and his other men had returned.

3pm
Afo continued to hit his revolver on his palm in a rhythmic manner as he revolved around the escaping captives. 'So what were you trying to do?' He shouted at them.
Evelyn clung to Henry's arm like a scared child. They were surrounded by four armed men who stared at them without pity.
'How did you cut the ropes and knock out those two guys?' Afo asked again, taking a look at each of his men. 'Or did they compromise?'
Afo moved closer to Henry and Tarasha. He placed his gun on Henry's nose and Henry froze in fear. 'You're brave right?' Afo continued to taunt. 'I would have killed you right now, but I'll take you inside first, for two reasons. First, I don't have a silencer here and secondly, I was ordered to make your death slow and painful'
He pushed Henry backwards on the nose with the gun and moved to Tarasha. 'Hmm...' Afo licked his lips wickedly. He placed the gun on her forehead and dragged it down her nose, lips to her neck. He then used his left hand to pull down her jacket's zip revealing her inner armless top. 'You seem to have a nice body' he said as he stared at the curves on her chest.
Afo dipped his hand in his pocket and picked out a knife. He placed it on Tarasha's top and began to cut it downwards.
Henry couldn't stand what his brain was communicating to him, this was the same thing he had seen some years ago and it was replaying again. His sister's clothes was torn on that fateful day with a knife too, but the difference was that his sister was held by two other men.
Then recognition hit him, he remembered Afo. Afo was also one of the men who had joined Dare in assaulting and murdering his sister back in the university. Hormones rushed into his brain, his eyes was filled with anger and his body vibrated as he tried to hold himself back
Afo was getting down to the breast level when Henry sent a blow to his hand, making the knife fall off.
All eyes turned to him. Afo smiled, surprised by his audacity. 'Bastard!' Afo cursed as he sent a blow to Henry's chest and followed it up by using the butt on his head. Henry lost consciousness immediately.
Afo smiled and turned back to Tarasha. She began to move backwards slowly like someone who was deeply terrified. Afo's boys formed a wall at her back to prevent her from further moment. The look on her face was like that of an helpless child.
'Please, I'll give you my body. Don't hurt me' she spoke in a pleading manner, trying to buy more time. 'Let's go inside and I'll submit myself to you'
'I don't need you to submit yourself or give yourself to me. I'm taking you by myself' Afo laughed wickedly.
He moved close to her and stretched his hand towards her torn inner top. She stopped him with her palm.
Surprisingly, he couldn't push further. It was as if the strength in the girls arm was equal to his own. He felt insulted and motioned his hand to slap her but she dodged. She bent down and delivered an uppercut to his groin. The huge man fell on one knee, wincing in pain.
Tarasha's defense of her self took Afo's men by surprise and before they could react properly Tarasha had driven a knife into the big Afo's right foot, sticking him to the ground and she was holding his neck with another knife close to it.
'His head would come down if anyone moves or cocks his gun' Tarasha gave a serious warning to Afo guys who were pointing a gun at her. Blood was already dripping from Afo's neck as the knife was so close to his skin.
Afo made signals to his men with his eyes, scared to talk and deepen the knife's entrance into his neck. His men gradually began to put down their guns.
'Good. Bring them over here' Tarasha motioned one of the guys to pack all the guys and drop the guns close to where she stood. 'Now remove every other weapon you have with you'
Afo's men raised up their hands in a surrendering fashion, trying to communicate that they had no other weapon with them. Tarasha stared at them for a moment, scrutinizing their pockets from her point.
'You' she signified to the one at the middle with her head. 'Take out that revolver behind your Jean'
The guy in the middle was shocked, he used his hand to beat his chest to confirm if she was really talking to him.
'Yes, Idio*t! Take out that revolver inside your trouser. The guy quickly loosened his belt and dipped in his hand to bring out the gun. He threw it where the other guns were and raised back his hands. 'Now, turn your backs' Tarasha ordered and the guns turned immediately.
'Okay...' She said, searching their bodies with her eyes. 'Take him into your car' she ordered them to lift Henry into the car.
'When you place him at the back, then drive the car down here' she ordered again, bending down to pick a gun.
She stared at them one after the other, she felt the urge to drop each of them. But no, it would only cause more problems. It may get her deeply involved with the police which she needed to avoid. The car was parked right beside her with Henry laid on the back seat. The driver came out and joined the rest of his men whose hands were raised up.
+++++++++++
3.20pm
Mallam Jefa was surprised at the manner at which the red car who had just driven into his neighbour's compound drove out of the gate recklessly. The car had just gotten to the front of his shop when it stopped and the new driver, a lady came out of the car. She turned round to check the tyres, the right back one was bad. She entered back into the car and drove off without bothering to change it
Jefa rubbed his eyes vigorously, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. 'Have I seen that lady before?' He mumbled to himself as he walked out of his store and stood at the side of the road. His customers that were unattended to were already getting surprised at why he abandoned them to peep a car whose movement or owner wasn't his business.
'No, it... can't be' Jefa mumbled to himself again as his body vibrated all over. Urine began to pass out of his body involuntarily. He raced back into his store and hurriedly rolled out a bike.
'Mallam Jefa, what are you doing with my bike?' Someone shouted at him.
Jefa ignored and started the engine, he sped off immediately in the same direction the car went.
+++++
Sylvester arrived at the black gate in his car with two police vans at his back exactly by three thirty pm. The police officers jumped off immediately and some rushed to Mallam Jefa's store. Boys who were smoking, drinking and eating at the store began to run helter skelter to evade police arrest. The officers were able to capture quite a number of them.
Some officers had already launched into the building. The compound seemed empty but there were traces of blood and signs of a fight. Three officers proceeded into the building carefully. The saw a body laying face flat, lifeless on the floor. The body was turned upward and the police took note of the bullet sent into the chest.
'Is he?' One officer spoke in a very low voice to his companion.
The other replied in negative with a wave of the hand.
'I think the victim was previously tied up here' another officer said in a low voice, picking up the ropes. 'But it doesn't look like it was only one person who was tied up'
'Maybe this was also one of the victims' an officer suggested, pointing to the lifeless body with bullet in the chest.
'I hope not'. The officers began to proceed with caution into the others rooms in the building. Two other men were called to join them from outside the building. A loud groan startled them.
'Did you hear that?' An officer asked as the groan came again.
'Some people are surely inside this house and they're unaware of our presence.' The officers dispersed themselves into the other rooms with great determination to find the criminals.
+++++++
'Doc, you have to stop that treatment for now'  Audu, a long bearded stout man who was second in command to Afo spoke.
Afo who laid on the bed receiving treatment turned to Audu in surprise, demanding an explanation with the look in his eyes. Afo's neck injury which had cleaned but not bandaged made it difficult for him to turn his head. The Doctor also demanded an explanation.
'The police are around, they're in the main building and we could attract them here if we keep making loud sounds'
Afo nodded in agreement. The Doctor turned to Afo, 'would you try to maintain calm while I treat you?'
'What the hell is maintain calm?' Afo slammed at him as he tried to sit up. 'The injury is so painful, I can't keep quiet completely. We have to wait for the police to leave'
With that, the Doctor got up from the bedside, picked up his instruments and walked away.
Afo turned back to Audu. 'Is the underground door properly locked?'
'Yes, it is. The police would never notice that there's a door there' Audu replied confidently. 'I don't just want them to have a clue that there's an underground facility'
'That's right' Afo commented, getting up to his feet. He hopped in pain to the fridge and took out a bottle of water.
'You should have brought those idiots to this place' Audu spoke after watching Afo gulp down the whole contents of the bottle.
'I underestimated them' Afo replied with a tone of regret. 'I didn't expect such strength from a girl'
'It will be difficult to kill them now. They would be more careful and the police would also keep an eye on them'
'I know, we have to inform Dare to be careful' Afo picked up his phone and sat back on the bed. His phone rang before he could dial anything.
'Hello Dare, I was about to call you'
'Yes, how far Afo?' Dare's voice came cheerfully. 'Did you record their shouts and screams?'
'I'm sorry Dare, they escaped' Afo spoke in a pleading manner.
'They did what???'
'They are also aware that you're behind this. So be careful please. I promise to make it up to you' Afo ended the call without waiting to hear another reply.
++++++
'What's that?' Jubril Lawal asked as he walked down the stairs of the duplex. Dare was unaware that his he raised his voice loud enough for someone else to hear.
'Nothing Dad, nothing.' Dare put on a fake smile and stood up to welcome his Dad.
'You're sure there's nothing wrong?' Dare nodded. 'Then who were you talking to?' Jubril pressed on.
Dare stared at his father, the unwillingness to answer the question was clearly seen on his face.
Jubril smiled. 'Don't worry son, you don't need to give me a reply, it's not my business anyways.'
Dare gave a forced smile.
'So how's work?' The father asked.
'Fine sir, how about yours?'
'Fine also' Jubril smiled again.
Dare was feeling uneasy. His Dad's smiles were unusual and getting too much. 'You said you wanted to see me'
'Yes son. It's my birthday next tomorrow and I've decided to organize a banquet' Jubril paused, allowing Dare to absorb the first part of the information. 'I'm inviting my friends and business partners. So I want you to work with Debo in organizing the banquet for me'
Dare found it hard to believe what he just heard. He was tempted to almost ask if his father was just marking a joke. 'You want to organize a banquet?' He asked softly.
'Yes son, what do you think?' Jubril Lawal paused and stared straight into his son's eyes.

Tarasha drove unusually slow, for three reasons. Firstly, she was sure that Afo and his guys weren't after them. The second reason was that she wasn't with her phone, it had been seized by Afo's men, so she had no GPS to find the right way home. The third and most important reason was Henry's unconsciousness, she could not hit the main road that way without confrontation from the police or other security officials.
Tarasha began to notice a bike trailing slowly behind them. Could it be one of Afo's men who was following them? She thought. Or was it just a coincidence.
Henry sneezed twice. Tarasha's heart was gladdened and she quickly brought the car to a halt at front of a Catholic cathedral.
'What... happened?' Henry managed to ask as he sat up. He placed a palm on his forehead as he was suffering from a serious headache.
'Some passersby came to our aid' Tarasha lied.
'Passersby? What about the police?' Henry asked, joining her at the front seat. He didn't wait for a reply before he continued. 'Did they do anything to you?' He asked taking Tarasha's palms in his.
'No' she replied with a smile.
'I'm sorry I couldn't protect you' Henry apologized with a sorry face but then, he noticed that Tarasha's attention was divided. She was looking into the front mirror. 'What's that?' Henry peeped to see what she was checking.
'Nothing' she covered up with a smile.
'Are they still following us?' Henry asked, undeceived by the smile.
Tarasha was not listening to him again, her eyes was on someone who was walking into the church compound beside them.
'Can you give me just a minute?' She said and opened the door. She stepped out in a hurry and followed into the cathedral's gate.
Tarasha opened the gate slowly and walked in. Her eyes did the searching work, she could see several Reverend sisters walking in and out of the church. She spotted the man who dropped from the bike previously trailing their car. Somewhere by the right side, the man was on the floor with his face buried in his knees. The statue of a mother carrying a baby was right in front of him. She could hear him sobbing as she got closer.
Jefa could feel her approaching, he could hear the silent footsteps in his mind. He knew she would come, his spirit told him so. He turned back to face her with tears in his eyes, their eyes met.
Tarasha could not understand what she felt as their eyes met. The man's eyes communicated so much longing, it seemed that he had just seen something he had been searching for ages. Tarasha's closed her eyes and shook her head to wave off the feeling, it could just be a tactic of the enemy. She dipped her hand into her pocket and it touched the knife as she moved closer. A hand touched her shoulder.
'Evelyn, what are you doing?' Henry asked, staring at the man weeping few metres in front of her.
'Nothing' she turned back to face him, wiggling her hair backwards.
'Let's go please' he took her hands in his and led her back.
'Are we going back to Elymax?' She asked.
'No' he gave her a surprised look. 'We'll go to the police station, then likely to the camera's security corps house'
Tarasha sighed and followed him reluctantly. 'I have a business deal to seal tomorrow'
**
Jefa sniffed in severally as he stared at them walking out. 'Do they work in Elymax?' He asked himself, as that was the only thing he got from their conversation. He got up from his knees slowly and followed after them outside the gate, ignoring the Reverend sister who was approaching him.
+++++
'How come you found no one there?' Sylvester barked at the officers. 'The signal leads us directly to this place'
'Maybe you should check again, the location may have changed' an officer suggested calmly.
'Or call the number' another officer offered.
'The number was not going through the last time I tried to call it' Sylvester said, attempting to dial the number again.
'Then you have to locate them again'
'It's connecting now' Sylvester announced, hushing everyone. He brought out another phone which he could use to determine the location immediately the call was answered.
'Mr Henry' Sylvester's eyes shone brightly as the call was answered. 'Where are you?' Sylvester asked, confirming the location on his second phone also. 'Just find somewhere safe and wait there, we'll meet you in ten minutes'
++++++
9pm
Mallam Jefa was still in his sober state when he returned to his store. His eyes were still full of tears as he walked in through the back door. Jefa noticed that there was no one in the store as he entered. All his goods were still intact except for some cups and plates that were displaced and found on the floor. That was unusual. He turned his gaze to the sitting area, it was sure from the look of things that his customers had left the place in commotion and panic. There were bottles of unfinished beer on the floor, unfinished food on the table, and packets of untouched cigarettes. Maybe a fight occurred, he thought. No, it couldn't be a fight. Some people would have stayed back after settling the fight. Whatever it was, Jefa was less concerned now. He had just found his long lost sister.
He let out a deep sigh as he sank into one of the visitors seat and thronged his head backwards. Omotara had not only maintained the same face she had when she was young, she also maintained the same manner of walking and voice. Only that everything now looked and sounded mature.
*** FLASHBACK ***
May 17, 2014
10pm
Jeffery watched in tears as their house razed in flames, the remains of his parents and two younger brothers burning in it. He and the remnant of his family were put in a large bus with several other kids in it, most of them weeping uncontrollably for the loss of their families too. The bus had no seats except for the driver's, so the kids were made to sit and lie on the ground.
Jeffery eyes met with his younger brother's where the boy was kept in the same section with his age mates. The lad, who was next after Omotara had no tears in his eyes like the other kids, he just stood still with his arms folded, mouth pouted and a mean face.
Jeffery, as the oldest son felt the need to protect the remaining two left of his younger ones, but how he will do that was a mystery to him. With the mean looking men in the bus with them, he wasn't even sure of where they were been taken to or what they were going to be used for.
Jeffery's eyes kept wandering around and he found Tara, seated on the floor and soaked in her tears. The blood stains on her clothes were visible and thick enough to make one throw up at the sight.
The bus entered a pothole and shook, some of the kids who were standing fell heavily to the floor. Soon, a rhythmic cry soon begun from the set of younger ones. The terrorists had no problem with the noise, the bus was sound proof.
Jerry was still standing, he didn't fall like the others, only a few staggers and he was back on his feet. Neither did he learn any lesson and decide to sit even when Jeffery was making signals for him to sit.
Jeffery got up and peeped through the window, a knock landed on his head, sending him back immediately. He held his head and winced in pain as he sat back on the floor. He glanced at one of his age mates who sat by his side and was pinching him. The look on the boys face was a question of what Jeffery saw outside.
'They've taken us out of town already' Jeffery whispered. 'But I don't know where they're taking us to'
After some minutes, the bus came to a halt and the door was opened. Two of the men standing in the bus with them stepped out. Soon, Jeffery could hear the men speaking to some others in Hausa language which he couldn't understand then.
The men returned into the bus after two minutes and began to usher out some of the kids. Jerry was one of the kids taken out of the bus. Jeffery stood up in panic and peeped through the window. The kids were being ushered into another bus, a smaller one.
'Kai' was all he heard as his head was hit by the butt of a gun. He began to see stars as he fell slowly to the floor, his eyes met with Omotara's eyes and then he blacked out.  That was the last time he saw his siblings.
He woke up several hours later to find himself laying on the floor in a room with other teenagers like himself. He struggled to sit up and glanced at their faces one after the other. He refrained from asking questions, it was obvious that they were all captives of the same terrorist group.
**PRESENT**
'Are you crazy?' A policeman stood at Jefa's front shouting.
Jefa looked up and found himself surrounded by six officers. 'What?' He asked.
'Are you Mallam Jefa, the owner of this store?'
'Yes'
'Your attention is needed at our station' the officer said as he brought the handcuffs forward
.
++++++
8am, next morning
Henry stretched and yawned like a new born baby on the bed. The event of the day before had weakened him so much that he had slept for almost twelve hours, something he had not done in years. He sat up and pressed the button beside the bed and the room was brightened by the white bulb. Henry's mouth opened in surprise as he looked around the large room. He had been too tired to notice how large and beautiful the room was when he was ushered in the last night. He never imagined that there was such a well furnished room in the corporation's quarters.
A phone rang on the stool beside the bed. He picked it up and checked the caller. It was an unsaved number. Who owned the phone and why was it by his side? He wondered. Maybe it was placed there for his use, he thought as he finally answered the call.
'Good morning Mr Henry' Sylvester's voice came through.
'Good morning sir' Henry replied.
'How was your night? Hope you're feeling better right now?'
'Yes, thanks. I'm feeling quite better'
'Alright, I called to inform you that some officers would come and pick you guys for medical check up in twenty minutes time and they'll likely ask you some questions about yesterday too'
'But... How will they come pick us for check up in thirty minutes time? I'm just waking up and I'm feeling very hungry now'
'Your bath water and breakfast has been prepared already. Go and inform your girlfriend about all I've said so that she can prepare too'
His girlfriend? Henry wondered as he got up from the bed. He knew that Sylvester was referring to Evelyn as his girlfriend and he smiled at the thought that people were already taking them to be lovers. He put on a shirt and a short and walked out of his room to the next room where Evelyn slept. He waved at the maids moving around as he faced the entrance of the room.
He let out a deep sigh before he rapped on the door and waited for a response. He knocked again after getting no response at the expected time, he leaned on the door and placed his ear to the door to listen if there was any movement in the room. He knocked again, this time louder. Could it be that Tarasha was still deeply asleep?
He placed his hand on the door knob and noticed that it was loose, a sign that the door was not locked. He turned it and opened the door slowly, poking his head in to peep. The room was neat and well kept but no one was in it. He walked further inside and closed the door behind. 'Evelyn' he called as he proceeded towards the bed. He checked the floor beside the bed, there was no sign of Evelyn. 'Evelyn, are you in?' He called again as he approached the restroom. He opened and entered into it, Evelyn was nowhere to be found. His heart began to beat faster as he proceeded out of the room.
'Has anyone seen Evelyn this morning?' He asked the maid cleaning up the living room.
'The lady you came in with last night?' The maid asked to be sure. Henry nodded. 'She should be in her room. She just woke up when I was mopping the passage'
'When was that?' Henry asked.
'About one hour ago, I saw her peeping outside through the door and I approached her to ask if she needed anything. She asked me to make her a cup of hot tea'
'Is that all?'
'Yes, I've not seen her since I made her tea.' The maid paused and placed a hand on her waist. 'Is she not in the room?' She asked with a raised eyebrow.
'Yes' Henry replied as he dialed a number on the phone with him. 'Join me check if she's around the house'
++++++
Tarasha adjusted her skirt properly in front of the mirror and brushed her hair backwards before putting on the suit jacket. She sat on the bed to put on the heeled shoes and got up to check the mirror again. She was looking smart and ready for the meeting.
Her plan was simple. Strike a deal with the man and make him take her to his cotton farm which she had already sent Benny and Cole to survey and fix several possible escape routes for her. She had made her investigation and found out that the only place Jubril Lawal went without his bodyguard and thugs was his farms. That was the best place to end the man's life without any struggle.
Tarasha sat back in the bed and placed her laptop on her lap, she opened it up and pressed the boot button. After the laptop came on, she opened her contact book and searched for Jubril's number dialing it on the phone she had taken from the maid's pocket in the camera's corporation house.
'Good morning Mr Jubril' she said as soon as the call was answered.
'Good morning Miss Evelyn' Jubril recognised her voice immediately. 'What happened to your line? I've been trying to reach you'
'I lost the phone, I had to borrow someone's phone to call you'
'Oh! Sorry about that'
'Thank you sir' Tarasha said, clearing her throat. 'I'll be on my way for our meeting in few minutes time, I just want to...'
'Humm...' Jubril interrupted. 'That's one of the reasons I've been trying to reach you. The meeting would no longer hold this morning'
Tarasha sighed loudly.
'I'm sorry but I sent something to your email since I couldn't reach you on phone. My birthday is tomorrow and I'm organizing a banquet in the evening. Let's meet there, maybe we can finalize our discussion immediately after the celebration'
'Okay' Tarasha seemed less enthusiastic. 'How do I attend?'
'Just check your email inbox, I've instructed my PA to forward every detail to you. I even asked him to organize a personal car that would bring you from your location to the venue'
'Oh! Thanks. I'll check my mailbox' Tarasha said and ended the call. She flung the phone on the bed and bent to take off her shoes. Then she fell back into the bed, thinking. Jubril Lawal's case had tarried for long, the banquet was going to be a perfect opportunity for her. She began to draw up plans in her mind. She wouldn't accept his transport plans, No. She would hire a car by herself and Cole would be the driver.

 ‘Evelyn is nowhere around ’ Henry said as he walked back into the house with his search party.
‘Did you check the whole compound?’ the voice at the other end asked.
‘Yes, I searched with the maids and the security men’ Henry answered, motioning back towards the room.
‘Okay, let me check what we have from the cameras’ Sylvester said before hanging up.
Henry was about to enter into his room when he looked at the door to Tarasha’s room and noticed that the position had changed from how it was left. He closed back the door and proceeded towards the room. He touched the knob, it was tight this time, it was locked. Had someone else gone in? Henry knocked.
The door was opened in few seconds and Henry was surprised to meet Tarasha still clothed in her night gown. His mouth was left agape.
‘Good morning’ she greeted first, leaving the door opened for him. She returned to the bed.
‘Where have you been?’ Henry walked in without responding to her greeting. ‘We’ve been searching for you everywhere’
‘I’ve been in this room’ Tarasha replied him, unperturbed.
‘But I was here some minutes ago, I searc…’
‘Yes, you searched everywhere in the room and also the restroom and you called my name several times without getting a response’ Tarasha interrupted.
‘Were you really in the room?’ Henry’s eyes widened.
‘Why were you searching for me?’ Tarasha asked, trying to change the topic.
A maid appeared at the entrance off the room, peeping through the opened door. She seemed surprise to see Tarasha.
‘Come’ Henry motioned her in. ‘Did you know she was in?’
‘I told you I saw her earlier today and that she should be in her room’
‘But I searched around and couldn’t find her’ Henry retorted. He turned to Tarasha, ‘were you really in the room?’
‘Yes’ Tarasha answered bluntly. ‘I was in the restroom, meditating’
‘Meditating?’ Henry repeated, still finding it hard to believe.
‘Yes, that’s why I couldn’t answer you, you don’t speak to anyone in the process’
‘Meditating? The Hindu way?’
‘Kind of’ Tarasha smiled.
‘That’s strange’ Henry frowned. ‘I thought you were not religious at all’
‘Ermm…’ Tarasha stammered. ‘But I do believe in meditation, it helps to calm the soul’
‘Mr Henry’ someone called from outside, diverting their attention. ‘The police officers are here to pick you’
‘You have to dress up and prepare, we are going for medical check-up’ Henry said to Tarasha as he left the room. The door was closed.
‘Thanks for your help’ Tarasha smiled at the maid.
‘No problem’ the maid smiled back.
‘Here’s your phone’ Tarasha said handing her a cellphone.
‘Alright, so when are you going to see me?’ The maid demanded for her payment as she took back her phone.
‘Humm…’ Tarasha stood up and dipped her hand into her pocket, like someone who was searching for money. Suddenly she grabbed the maid by the neck and injected a fluid into the maid’s arm. The maid fell down unconscious immediately. Tarasha dragged the body into the restroom and laid her on the floor, she brought out some money and stuck it into the maid’s pocket before leaving the restroom. The maid had been injected with benryl and would forget everything that happened in the last two hours by the time she woke up.

**12pm
Henry continued to steal glances at Tarasha as they headed for the police station to take don their statement. The officer who drove the car drove slowly thereby prolonging the journey and the moment of silence between Henry and Tarasha.
Henry’s phone disrupted their peace. ‘Hello’ Henry answered the incoming call.
‘I couldn’t find anything on the tapes’ Sylvester said with a note of tiredness after being asked several times by Henry to check and cross check again.
‘Don’t bother, I didn’t check well, she was in the restroom’ Henry said, stealing a glance at Tarasha, their eyes met.
‘So why were you now disturbing me to cross check several times?’ Sylvester asked angrily.
‘Erm…’ Henry stammered. He couldn’t give an answer as he did not want Evelyn to get the impression that he was doubting her.
Tarasha gave a short smile which later turned into a frown. She understood his trick but was not bothered. It was just a day left for her to complete her mission and she would disappear from him and from Abuja. She’ll kill him immediately if he happens to resurface anytime or tries to cause trouble for her.
‘Oh!’ Henry exclaimed as Sylvester reminded  him of the job he was supposed to give a report for by  the next day. ‘Thanks for helping me start the job. I’ll report to the office once we leave the police station’
The drive to Division A lasted for fifteen minutes more. Evelyn and Henry were ushered into the  station immediately. After taking down a written statement, they were ushered into another office for interrogation.
The interrogator, an officer in his early thirties walked into the room carrying a tablet device in his hands.
‘Hi, I’m officer Ken ’ He introduced himself, shaking the hands of the duo. ‘You’re Henry and Evelyn, right?’ The two nodded in agreement. ‘I want you guys to tell us all you know so that we can nab those criminals’ Ken continued, checking through his device for the list of questions he already compiled. ‘How were you taken?’ He began.
Henry started first. He explained how the kidnappers had dressed like policemen and come to arrest him with a fake Identity card, he also explained how they made him lead them to Evelyn. After him, Tarasha also gave her own account of the abduction.
Several other questions were asked after that and henry and Tarasha took turns to reply each question, most times individually.
‘Who were those that you say helped you?’ Ken asked one of his final questions.
‘The kidnappers let us go’ Tarasha said, surprising Henry.
‘They released you and gave you the car to leave with?’
‘Yes, I believe that they were ordered by the person who sent them. They released us after a big man entered and spoke in Hausa language to them’
‘Hmm…’ Ken sighed as he took down notes.
Henry was staring at Tarasha in surprise. She had told him that passersby helped them and not that they were freed by the kidnappers themselves.
‘The man was somewhat like a boss to them’ Tarasha quickly added. ‘He entered into the compound violently so I first thought that they were just passersby who heard our screams outside. It was later I realised that they were of the group’
Henry became calmer after Tarasha’s explanation but she still had some explanations to do to him. Why didn’t she tell him the whole story?
Ken gave a signal to one of the junior officers standing beside him. The junior officer nodded and left through the back exit. He returned in two minutes time with Mallam Jefa.
‘Was this man a part of the kidnappers?’
‘No’ Henry answered. He stared at Tarasha’s face for confirmation.
‘No, he isn’t’ Tarasha confirmed, staring at the man who she remembered was trailing behind them as they escaped.
‘Okay, you can process his release’ Officer Ken said to the junior officer.
‘Please, I have something to say’ Jefa shouted as the junior officer tried to take him away.
All eyes focused on Jefa. ‘Bring him back’ Ken said. Mallam Jefa was returned back to his position. ‘Yes, what do you want to say?’
Tears formed in Jefa’s eyes as he opened his mouth to begin. He let out a deep breath.
... to be continued